It’s Paul’s great “Therefore.”

 

Much of the book of Romans is given over to some pretty heavy theological work. What is the meaning of God’s righteousness? Where does Israel fit into this? What about justification by faith? What happens to the Mosaic law? What role does grace play? Heavy questions facing the newly developing church in the First Century.

 

But then Paul turns to the practical, the everyday. Therefore, because of justification and grace and all that, you should live as a new creation, Christ’s people in the world. In most of the rest of the book, Paul offers pithy guidance about what this Christian life requires. In words reminiscent of the Sermon on the Mount, Paul calls for love within the Christian community, concern for others, and an end to judgmentalism. “Let love be genuine.” “Extend hospitality to strangers.” “Live peaceably with all.” “Overcome evil with good.” “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We’ve gone from theological tomes to bumper stickers, and it happens when Paul says, “Therefore.”

 

Paul prefaces these pithy teachings by reminding his hearers (for the letter would have been read to the church in Rome) that they have been gifted in different ways, that all their gifts are important to the work of the church, and that they should not think more highly or less highly of themselves (or of others, I would think, though Paul didn’t say that!) because of what gift they possessed.

 

That’s still how it is in healthy congregations. Some members have the ability to study the Bible and teach the Bible. Some can mow the grass or care for the shrubbery. Some can study the issues of peace or globalization or climate change and lead the congregation to greater involvement in the world. Some can give great sums of money and others can give generously in smaller sums. Some can keep track of the church’s finances, recording income and supervising

spending. Some can play the organ or sing in the choir. Some can prepare Wednesday night suppers or wash the dishes afterwards. Some can preside with grace and fairness over church meetings that might be divisive. Some are wonderful working with babies or children or youth. Some bring great comfort by visiting people who are elderly or in declining health. Some work comfortably in meeting the physical needs of vulnerable people in the community. Some see people with disabilities as people with different abilities. Some know how to fix the plumbing, and some know how to fix the computer network.

 

All are equally beloved by God, and all are critical to the function of Christ’s church.

 

Now I want to take Paul’s words up a level. All of us with all of our varying gifts are called to be “one body in Christ.” Except when we look at the Christian landscape, we quickly see that we are many bodies in Christ—Baptists and Presbyterians and CMEs and Catholics and all the rest. And, in fact, many of those broad divisions of Christ’s family are subdivided even further. One of the great scandals of Christ’s church is how we have fractured ourselves into so many different bodies, certainly not “one body in Christ.”

 

But there are hopeful signs, as Christians from various traditions come together to build a Habitat home or worship together at Thanksgiving or operate a soup kitchen or march together for peace. There is hope as regional and national organizations (some called councils of churches, others not) bring people together across the lines of denomination which have too long divided us. And there is hope as denominations once fractured by doctrine or divided by race come back together, re-forming in a more unified way as northern and southern Presbyterians have done, agreeing to recognize one another’s clergy as Disciples and the UCC have done, even reaching conciliation on major theological differences as Lutherans and Roman Catholics have done. 

 

Part of the work for Christian unity is in recognizing that we are more alike than we are different and that we can be enriched by many of our differences. So, within the membership of the North Carolina Council of Churches, some feature fiery, prophetic preaching, while others know the power that comes in silence. Some reach decisions by consensus, while others vote democratically, with majority rule, and others looks for critical decisions to church leaders. Some have a special emphasis on music, both sung and instrumental, and some use eloquent liturgical language. Some are especially involved with peacemaking, others with racial justice, others with welcoming the stranger or feeding the hungry. Some engage in regular, in-depth study of the Bible. Some plumb the depths of spirituality. Some operate health clinics and some practice faith healing. 

 

All are equally beloved by God. All are important parts of Christ’s family. And all are part of living in the broader Christian community, called to live as one body in Christ.  

 

BY REV. J. GEORGE REED, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

NORTH CAROLINA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES